Gary Varvel: (D)evolution of college students
Essay on Dietrick Bonhoeffer
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
I first published this in 2021. I’m reposting it because it may explain current events.
“I see stupid people. They’re everywhere but they don’t know they’re stupid.”
Perhaps you’ve seen that meme. Well, this was essentially Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s conclusion during the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime.
Bonhoeffer was a German theologian and Lutheran pastor. In 1943, Bonhoeffer was arrested because of his resistance efforts against the Nazi regime. Two years later he was hanged at the extermination camp at Flossenbürg. While in prison, he wrote, what later would be published as, Letters and Papers from Prison.
Bonhoeffer developed the Theory of Stupidity which declared, “Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than evil.”
“Against stupidity we have no defense. Neither protests nor force can touch it. Reasoning is of no use. Facts that contradict personal prejudices can simply be disbelieved — indeed, the fool can counter by criticizing them, and if they are undeniable, they can just be pushed aside as trivial exceptions. So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self-satisfied. In fact, they can easily become dangerous, as it does not take much to make them aggressive. For that reason, greater caution is called for than with a malicious one. Never again will we try to persuade the stupid person with reasons, for it is senseless and dangerous.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Does that sound familiar? Just watch cable news shows and you’ll see people who act like political robots repeating memorized political sound-bites and slogans. Watch the man on the street interviews and it’s understandable why stupid politicians keep getting elected.
Stupid people are dangerous, according to Bonhoeffer. When their beliefs are challenged they get aggressive. This explains why stupid college students riot to keep conservative speakers from giving a speeches on campus.
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President Ronald Reagan said it best, “The trouble with our Liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so.” Stupidity is not a lack of education. Congress is full of well-educated people with academic degrees who are filled with stupidity.
No, it is a moral and spiritual problem. They are stupid because the god of this world has blinded their minds to the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). Therefore, instruction can’t overcome stupidity, it takes a liberation of their soul which is an act of God.
Proverbs 1:22 says, “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.” Notice the progression: The simple, scorners and fools.
We all begin life as simple (ignorant). But if a simple person doesn’t learn wisdom, he becomes a scorner, also known as a mocker or scoffer. Scorners, despise, belittle and insult others and they will eventually become fools and as the verse above says, “Fools hates knowledge.” A person who hates knowledge is what Bonhoeffer called, “Stupid.”
How did America get overrun by stupid people? The philosophies of Darwin, Marx and Freud fundamentally changed America into a godless culture. And godlessness always produces stupid people.
The Founding Fathers knew this. Our Second President John Adams warned, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Pray that God will liberate America from stupidity.
UPDATE:
Proverbs 9:10 says, ““The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Without a knowledge and reverence for God, people don’t have wisdom and understanding to make right judgments. This explains why activists on college campuses support pro-Hamas terrorists.
ADVICE TO PARENTS
Pastor Voddie T. Baucham Jr. said, “We cannot continue to send our children to Caesar for their education and be surprised when they come home as Romans.”
He’s right. Government schools are indoctrinating our children with an ungodly worldview. But the Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6)
Parents, schools may teach your kids the 3 Rs but, your job is to train your child in the truths of the Bible.
RIGHT VIEWS
VIDEO - Tucker Carlson interviews Doug Wilson about Christian nationalism
VIDEO - During NYC during 'DAY OF RAGE' protest, activists draped a Palestinian flag over the 107th infantry World War I Soldier Memorial while an American flag burns on the ground.
Jerry Newcombe: “The chief thing that is aimed at in this college is to teach and engage children to know God in Jesus Christ.” - (Columbia in 1754). How far it has strayed from the Christian faith that gave them birth.
Townhall - Spencer Brown: Was this a Biden state department briefing or a Hamas press conference?
Cal Thomas: The powerless church. If the church has lost its voice, who will speak up against wrong things? Who will listen?
HUMOR ME
HUMOR ME: Fix my cartoon with a snarky remark. Email your entries to gary@garyvarvel.com. Winners announced in Friday’s newsletter for paid subscribers.
My Israel essay series:
Part 2: God’s promise to Israel
Part 4: God’s restoration of Israel to Himself
My essay series on America’s spiritual war:
Part 1 - The War Within America
Part 2 - The War Within America - Baal
Part 3 - The War Within America - Ishtar
Part 4 - The War Within America - Molech
Part 5 - The War Within America - Fundamental change
My Series of Essays on God’s Timeline
Part 1 — God’s 7000-year timeline: Mount Sinai, Transfiguration, Jericho and Sabbath Prophecies
Part 3 — God’s 7000-year timeline: Hosea and Woman at the Well Prophecy
Part 4 — God’s 7000-year timeline: The Lazarus Prophecy
Part 5 — God’s 7000-year timeline: The Job Prophecy
Part 6 — God’s 7000-year timeline: The Jubilee Prophecy
Part 7 — God’s 7000-year timeline: The Good Samaritan Prophecy
Part 8 — God’s 7000-year timeline: The Creation Prophecy
Part 9 — God’s 7000-year timeline: The Wedding in Cana Prophecy
Part 10 — God’s 7000-year timeline: The Esther Prophecy
Thanks Gary, another great post and good timing. "Against stupidity we have no defense. Neither protests nor force can touch it. Reasoning is of no use. Facts that contradict personal prejudices can simply be disbelieved — indeed, the fool can counter by criticizing them, and if they are undeniable, they can just be pushed aside as trivial exceptions. So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self-satisfied. " .... "Without a knowledge and reverence for God, people don’t have wisdom and understanding to make right judgments."
Gary, how do you deal with stupid people in government? Our town is building a Pickleball court across the street from our house. For those of you who don’t know, Pickleball is super loud. Anyway, the city, both the planners and the city council, are determined to build this Pickleball court. We’ve tried all the logical Arguments, like noise, congestion, traffic, lower property values. But nothing seems to work because they are stupid people. What would you do? Is there a spiritual argument I could make for not building this noisy, concrete monster next to my house? The hearing is today at 6:30 PM, and each of us only gets three minutes to talk. Anyway, your article is running through my mind, because when stupid people take over your local government, they do stupid things. And we are David against Goliath right now.